Applegater Summer 2014
The butterflies of summer
by lINdA kAppEN
Pine White
The Pine White (Nephasia menapia)
(see photos at right), whose habitat is
coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest,
belongs to the butterfly family Pieridae.
The caterpillar host plants are pines and
firs. Adults nectar on composites and
monarda (a genus of flowering plants in
the mint family, e.g., bee balm, horsemint,
bergamot, etc.). This butterfly has a
wingspan of up to two inches. Males (see
photo) are immaculately white while
females are creamy white. Both have black
markings on forewing tips; females have
orange-red edgings.
The Pine White is considered a
primitive butterfly with its life history
being unique to the butterfly family of
Pieridae. Only three butterflies in our
Cascadia region are known to have larvae
that feed on conifers: Pine Whites, Western
Pine Elfin and Juniper Hairstreak (aka
Cedar Hairstreak), which feed on junipers
and cedars. Eggs are deposited on pine
needles over winter. Then the larvae feed
on spring growth.
They can be seen flying as adults
from late June to early October. Their
flight is weak, and they often look like
they are floating down from the treetops.
Pine Whites are a pleasure to watch in the
Western Pine Elfin
summer and are easily approachable.
Every 20 to 30 years a natural
phenomenon occurs when there is a
massive outbreak of Pine Whites. In 2010,
the Malheur National Forest in the Blue
Mountains of eastern Oregon experienced
a three-year population explosion of Pine
Whites. The butterflies were described
as looking like a snowstorm in summer.
A video and interview about this rare
occurrence can be viewed at http://www.
pbs.org/newshour/bb/science-jan-june12-
pinebutterfly_03-12/. I hope I am around
for the next outbreak, which would be an
extraordinary thing to witness.
Western Pine Elfin
The Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys
eryphon) (see photo below) is another
butterfly using pines for its larval host plant.
It belongs to the family Lycaenidae and is
of the subfamily Theclini (hairstreaks).
They nectar on many spring blooms such
as dandelions, lupine, buckwheat, pussy
paws and pussy willow catkins. Males will
also use mud. It is a small, tailless butterfly
with a wingspan of up to one and a half
inches. Its colors range from brown to
purplish brown; females are more orange.
The Western Pine Elfin’s habitat
is pine forests with meadow openings.
Being a spring-to-early summer butterfly,
it is more likely to be seen in early spring
in lower elevation meadows and higher
altitudes in summer depending on seasonal
weather conditions.
Eggs are laid singly at the base of
young pine needles, on which the larvae
feed. Pupae overwinter in a physiological
state called diapause (dormancy). In
spring, males emerge first, perching on
small trees and shrubs to wait for females.
Females spend their time flying from nectar
flowers at meadows to higher-elevation
larval host plants.
While taking photos on the edges of a
13
meadow in early spring, I observed a male
Western Pine Elfin repeatedly returning to
perch on the same Oregon Grape plant,
even though I was standing next to the
plant waiting for photo opportunities.
This butterfly sits with closed
wing, allowing you to see its remarkable
identifying marks with bold patterns. It’s
another one of nature’s artistic beauties.
Linda Kappen
humbugkapps@hotmail.com
Ed. Note: Linda Kappen earned a naturalist
certification from Siskiyou Field Institute and
hosts two-day butterfly courses there.
All butterfly photos by Linda Kappen.
Pine White female
Pine White male
recreation
• Photography. Everywhere. Pick up Oregon’s good birding sites and Anderson Paragliding Association website (www.
your camera and see what you can find.
Butte/Sterling Ditch as an IBA (Important rvhpa.org).
On-the-road opportunities
• Wildflower discovery. Begins Bird Area).
• Bicycling. The country roads and
in early spring with grouse flowers and In-the-air recreation
manzanitas and is fabulous even in July at • Paragliding. Maybe you’d rather be a back roads offer glorious rides, though
higher elevations. The botanical diversity of bird than look at birds. Woodrat Mountain shoulders are slim on main roads, so be
the Siskiyous is on display in the Applegate! is famous among paragliders. The 12th cautious! Cycle Oregon came through the
• Wildlife viewing. Try the wildlife annual Rat Race/Sprint Paragliding Applegate a few years ago, cycling over
blind at Lower Squaw Lake. Keep your Competition will be held this year from Grayback Mountain (for experts only!)
eyes open for bears on a trail. Cougar June 22 - 28, with a practice day on June and through the ghost town of Buncom.
sightings are rare. Other possibilities for 21. Registration is closed, but come and The Buncom post office opened just for
quiet, sharp-eyed walkers include fishers, watch. Check it out at mphsports.com the occasion.
ring-tail cats, bobtail cats, coyotes, and or at the Rogue Valley Hang Gliding and • Scenic driving. It’s gorgeous in
the Applegate, whether in a car or on a
porcupines. Anyone
can spot ospreys at
Applegate Lake. Just
look up.
• Butterfly
viewing. “Butterflies
of unrivaled beauty
f l u t t e r n e a r by”
(from the Fall 2013
Applegater). Check
out the butterfly
article above.
• B i r d i n g .
The Applegate is
a great place for
bird-watchers. The
Audubon Society
of Portland lists the
Camping at Jackson Campground
Combine scenic driving with wine-tasting
Applegate River and
along the Applegate River.
in the Applegate. Best done with a designated driver
Photo: sououtdoorprogram.files.wordpress.com
or in a limo. Photo: antiwinesnob.com.
Reservoir as one of
from page 12
motorcycle. Take the back roads. Get a
map. Explore.
Ball sports
• Tennis. The tennis court at the
Applegate School is available when school
is not in session.
• Volleyball. There’s a court at
Applegate Lake. Horseshoe pits too.
Other
• Picnicking. Picnic grounds at
Applegate Lake, Squaw Lakes, Jackson
Campground, Cantrall-Buckley, and
McKee Bridge (alas for the loss of the
Wayside Park!)—or just spread a blanket
in a beautiful spot and open a basket of
barbecued chicken, ripe peaches, and a
bottle of local wine.
• Camping. You can find campgrounds
at Applegate Lake, Squaw Lakes, Cantrall-
Buckley, Jackson Campground (no trailers),
and primitive campsites on USFS land
where you can “get away from it all”—or
get to it all, depending on what “it” is.
• Wine-tasting. Is this outdoor
recreation? If so, there’s plenty in the
Applegate!
Diana Coogle
dcoogle@laughdogpress.com
Ed. Note: Land ownership in the Applegate
is a checkerboard of public and private
properties. Private land, which is not always
marked as such, is off limits—unless you gain
prior approval of the property owner.
